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Photos of Algeria

The Sahara Desert covers large parts of Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Sudan, and Tunisia, with an area measuring approximately 9,200,000 sq km (3,600,000 sq mi). It is the largest hot desert in the world and the world’s third-largest desert, after Antarctica and the Arctic. The name "Sahara" comes from the Arabic word "sahra," meaning "desert.”

Introduction

World Factbook Glyph

Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.

Geography

Area

comparison ranking: total 11

Area - comparative

Area comparison map:
Area comparison map

People and Society

Languages

Arabic audio sample:

Age structure

2023 population pyramid:
2023 population pyramid

Median age

comparison ranking: total 146

Population growth rate

comparison ranking: 62

Birth rate

comparison ranking: 67

Death rate

comparison ranking: 208

Net migration rate

comparison ranking: 122

Maternal mortality ratio

comparison ranking: 76

Infant mortality rate

comparison ranking: total 82

Total fertility rate

comparison ranking: 49

Tobacco use

comparison ranking: total 80

Education expenditures

comparison ranking: 21

Environment

Revenue from coal

comparison ranking: 159

Government

Economy

Real GDP growth rate

comparison ranking: 75

Real GDP per capita

comparison ranking: 123

Labor force

comparison ranking: 47

Unemployment rate

comparison ranking: 177

Public debt

comparison ranking: 172

Taxes and other revenues

comparison ranking: 18

Current account balance

comparison ranking: 34

Exports

comparison ranking: 64

Imports

comparison ranking: 66

Debt - external

comparison ranking: 88

Energy

Communications

Internet users

comparison ranking: total 33

Transportation

Airports

comparison ranking: 60

Railways

comparison ranking: total 46

Roadways

comparison ranking: total 46

Merchant marine

comparison ranking: total 83

Military and Security

Military expenditures

comparison ranking: 2

Space

Terrorism

Transnational Issues